Summer Arts Guide 2023: Vancouver's festivals keep creative energy going all summer long

A month-by-month roundup of all the pop-up park concerts, dazzling dance, and rocking street parties this season

Nova Bhattacharya’s 30-woman *Svāhā!*, at the Indian Summer Festival on July 14 and 15.

The Khatsahlano Street Party is back in full swing with more than 60 musical acts July 8.

WHETHER YOU’RE ON the hunt for the tantalizing beats of an outdoor concert, thrilling new theatre works, or cultural connection, let’s face it: festivals are as much a part of summer in Vancouver as popsicles, barbecues, and hitting the beach.

Community connection is at the forefront of much of the programming this year, whether it’s diverse standup comedy at the Indian Summer Festival, comeback concerts at the Kitsilano Showboat after a devastating fire, or local fashion designers at the beachfront African Descent Festival.

With a lineup of fests this packed, you’re bound to find at least one that beckons you off the air-conditioned couch and into the beautiful warm weather. (Or if you’re not feeling the heat, maybe your fest beckons you into an air-conditioned cinema.)

The month-to-month guide ahead is a one-stop shop of Vancouver-based summer fests. Go forth and discover.

JUNE

Talking Stick Festival

To July 2 at SFU Woodward’s and venues around the city

Hosted by Full Circle: First Nations Performance, this year’s “Summer Reverb”-themed festival amplifies the sounds and voices of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer artists. A mixed basket of art forms is on the menu, from burlesque to a book launch to an immersive 4D audio performance. Headlining the event are singer-musician Logan Staats and DJ KOOKUM for National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, and singer-activist-storyteller Pura Fé. Plus, don’t miss a Sofar Sounds-hosted live music show, featuring a top-secret venue and artist lineup revealed just 24 hours prior to the event. Summer vibe: Indigenous artistry reverberating around the city.

Bard on the Beach

To September 30 at Vanier Park

A beloved Shakespearean staple now in its 34th season, the festival headlines with its hit 2018 production As You Like It, a 1960s musical tribute brimming with live Beatles hits. The show will be performed on the BMO Mainstage in repertory with thrilling contemporary-set political drama Julius Caesar. Two other productions will call the park’s more intimate Howard Family Stage home for the season: inspiring and timely historic play Henry V, and the hilariously interactive Goblin:Macbeth. Summer vibe: Shakespeare spanning 1600s to 1960s to 2023.

Queer Arts Festival

June 17 to 28 at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre and venues around the city

Evoking cosmic camp and otherworldly voyages through the theme “Queers in Space”, this year’s Queer Arts Festival is a call to explore and celebrate occupied space, honour queer elders, and celebrate future queer trajectories. The fest is packed with events: tour a visual-art exhibition curated by Zandi Dandizette, discover augmented-reality artist Preston Buffalo’s Indigiqueer futurism work via QR codes in Cosmic Connections: Queer Indigenous Astronomy, and see a powerful performance by the Indigiqueer burlesque babes of Virago Nation, featuring special-guest drag artist Continental Breakfast. Summer vibe: Future-forward love and learning.

Kitsilano Showboat

Starting June 19, 7 pm weekly shows to July 15

The Kitsilano Showboat’s 88th season journeys on undefeated, in the wake of the devastating fire that heavily damaged the historic 1935 facility in April. The iconic seaside venue received Vancouver Park Board approval for the use of its stage this summer, which will host a scaled-back schedule of 11 shows, beginning with the Kitsilano High School concert band on June 19. Canada Day has a stacked celebratory lineup that includes crafts, games, and performances by the likes of the Vancouver Puppet Theatre and South Van Big Band. Keep checking back for more programming and show announcements. Summer vibe: Triumphant comeback from a blighting blaze.

Vancouver International Jazz Festival

June 23 to July 2 at venues around the city

From trumpet luminary Chris Botti and sonically adventurous American quartet The Bad Plus, to powerhouse trio Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily’s new venture Love in Exile, the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society-hosted fest is back for its action-packed 38th season. A lineup of nearly 50 free outdoor shows will pop up around the city at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s šxwƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, and across Granville Island. The Fits and Hayley Wallis and The Bright Futures kick off the celebrations at Ocean Artworks on opening night; and Afro-Cuban rockstar vocalist Cimafunk closes out the shows outside the VAG with his nine-piece band of Havana all-stars. The diverse array of jazz on the lineup means there’s something stellar for everyone. Summer vibe: Sun tans and flip flops, jazzed up.

Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Summer Concert Series

June 27, July 1, 7 and 8 at various venues

Sitar, santoor, flute, oboe, erhu, pipa, zheng, tabla, Persian ney, and cello: These are just some of the instruments that will be heard in all their glory at VICO’s four-part Summer Concert Series. New chamber music on the program for intercultural ensembles includes works-in-progress, new arrangements, and world premieres by emerging and established composers from Canada, the Netherlands, the United States, and Iran. Among them: Rita Ueda (winner of the 2022 Jules Leger Prize for New Canadian Chamber Music), Vancouver’s own Lan Tung, and Dutch composer Joël Bons. Summer vibe: Global travels that expand sonic horizons.

The Polygon Gallery Deckchair Cinema

June 29 to August 31 on Thursdays, on Cates Deck at The Polygon Gallery

Enjoy classic films under the stars throughout The Polygon Gallery’s summer of al fresco flicks. Bring a blanket or low chair and get comfortable for a sunset screening of Lovers Rock, Bullitt, Fantastic Planet, or another of the fan-favourite films on the lineup—all complemented by music and entertainment leading up to curtain time. The series is complete with an outdoor Meet the Makers market featuring drinks from local wineries and breweries, and access to the gallery’s summer exhibition Jeremy Shaw: Phase Shifting Index. Summer vibe: Drive-in cinema energy made classy.

*Back to the Future* headlines VIFF Centre’s ode to all things ’80s.

Back to the 80s

June 29 to August 31 at the VIFF Centre

Following on the heels of 2022’s unforgettable Ragged Glory: Summer in the 70s film series, VIFF returns this summer in a new decade with Back to the 80s. Screening 60 films total, the series highlights flicks that rebelled against 1980s resurgent capitalism and rampant consumerism, alongside indie darlings, crime dramas, and comedic classics—think Hairspray, Do the Right Thing, Scarface, Ghostbusters, and opening night film Back to the Future. Summer vibe: Time travelling to summers past.

Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Festival

June 30 to July 8 at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza), venues around the city, and online

Catch 14 performing groups, including the Taiwan Yangqin Orchestra and local fusion trio the Orchid Ensemble at the ANNEX, and the traditional rhythmic movement of Atayal Taiwan First Nation M-yu Dancers by the gallery, for this annual celebration of Taiwanese arts. Plus, a mix of outdoor activities including workshops, art exhibitions, and kids crafts, accompanied by online film screenings with Taiwan Cinema from July 4 to 8. Summer vibe: Celebratory Taiwanese tribute.

The Bricktacular West Coast Modern Show: Paul Hetherington.

JULY

West Coast Modern Week

July 4 to 9 at venues around the city

Celebrate the one-of-a-kind local flair of West Coast modernism, a distinct architectural style hatched out of West Vancouver, during a week full of talks, exhibitions, and parties presented by the West Vancouver Art Museum. Visitors can learn how B.C.’s beautiful natural terrain of forested mountains, an expansive ocean, and a lush rainforest pose both challenges and opportunities for design. Be sure to catch the 17th annual home tour and tea party offering access to local architecturally-significant residences, including the Carmichael House designed by Ron Thom in 1957. At the museum, check out two exhibitions: running through to July 31 is The Bricktacular West Coast Modern Show: Paul Hetherington, in which the artist has re-created West Coast Modern buildings out of LEGO; and Order from Chaos: Jane Adams and B.C. Binning, on view till September 23. Summer vibe: Floor-to-ceiling sunlight.

Vancouver Greek Summerfest

July 6 to 9 and 13 to 16 at the Greek Orthodox Community of East Vancouver and surrounding neighbourhood

Indulge in delectable Greek food favourite like loukoumades (Greek donuts), souvlaki, BBQ lamb, and spanakopitawhile enjoying stage entertainment such as Greek folk dance from Zéfyros Hellenic Dance Society, the classic Greek steel-stringed lute sounds of a bouzouki concert from Yanni Sahamis, and more. Summer vibe: Delicious gyros and musical heroes.

*Barocco Rave,* by Vancouver’s Wen Wei Dance and Italy’s ADARTE Company.

Dancing on the Edge

July 6 to 15 at the Firehall Arts Centre and venues around the city

One of the most anticipated events in B.C.’s contemporary dance scene launches its 35th season with over 30 high-calibre live premieres, works-in-progress, and repertory pieces. Highlights include the new lossy, from Lisa Mariko Gelley and Josh Martin’s dynamic Vancouver-based Company 605; double bill Ecdysis | Soft Palate, showcasing the interdisciplinary collaboration of choreographer Emmalena Fredriksson, costume designer Alaia Hamer, and lighting designer Kyla Gardiner; and Barocco Rave, a compelling melding of Vancouver’s Wen Wei Dance and Italy’s ADARTE Company. Summer vibe: Dance the night away.

Indian Summer Festival

July 6 to 16 at venues around the city

Packed with a powerful 10-event lineup, the 13th annual Indian Summer Festival draws upon a theme of “inter/dependence” to emphasize shifts away from isolated individualism, and towards constellations of connectedness. Highlights include Punch Up, a diverse roster of standup comedians; Svāhā!, Nova Bhattacharya’s epic 30-woman dance ode to female rites and rituals; and Not What You Expected, a conversation between powerhouse activists Harsha Walia and Anjali Appadurai. Be sure to catch the opening party featuring a South Asian-Middle Eastern-East African choral performance, an exquisite ancestral menu curated by chef Tushar Tondvalkar, and more. Summer vibe: Collective caring for the world we live in.

Theatre Under the Stars

July 6 to August 26 at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park

Song and dance fill the historic outdoor Malkin Bowl this summer at TUTS, with two hit musicals alternating through the season. The Prom follows the comedic social activism adventure of four down-on-their-luck Broadway actors; and Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical uses toe-tapping tunes, and outstanding dance numbers to tell the slyly comedic tale of a brilliant schoolgirl who’s been pegged as naughty. Summer vibe: School’s in session during summer vacation.

Carnaval del Sol

July 7 to 9 at David Lam Park

Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of delicious food, live music, and a riot of rhythmic dance at the 15th anniversary of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest Latin American festival. Guests can expect different plazas for kids, culinary experiences, market stalls, concerts, and more, along with festive events—think Latin circus orchestra, a salsa boat cruise through Coal Harbour, and neon-lit beer-garden party. Summer vibe: Tango, tacos, and a soccer tournament, too.

Khatsahlano Street Party

July 8 on West Fourth Avenue

The West 4th Avenue party—the city’s largest free music and arts fest—features food trucks, beer gardens, shopping, and concert stages boasting kickass acts like Yukon Blonde, Pink Mountaintops, and Desireé Dawson; there are a staggering 60-plus musical acts in all. The party rages all day, from 11 am to 9 pm. Families can take wee ones over to Khats Kids at Trafalgar Street, where there will be performances by children’s entertainers such as Mom Bop and Matt Henry. Summer vibe: Neighbourhood jam.

Vancouver Folk Music Festival

July 14 to 16 at Jericho Beach Park

Back in action for a 46th year of oceanside tunes, the folk fest features an exciting mix of talents. Juno Award-winning First Nations singer-songwriter William Prince is on the Main Stage lineup, along with Canadian women’s music icon Ferron, legendary British country-rock guitarist Albert Lee, and Italian tarantella group Kalàscima. Rounding out the event are forces like Tré Burt, whose political folk song “Under The Devil’s Knee” traces the lives of George Floyd, Eric Garner, and Breonna Taylor. Summer vibe: Forward-thinking folk.

Mission Folk Music Festival

July 21 to 23 at Fraser Valley Heritage Park

The 36th annual festival has a mighty lineup that includes the likes of Anishinaabe musician Leonard Sumner, triple-Juno-nominated composer Alysha Brilla, Louisiana’s Cedric Watson and Jourdan Thibodeaux, and Toronto-based soul dynamo Tanika Charles, to name a few. Then there’s OKAN, which takes its name from the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria of its two Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated members: Elizabeth Rodriguez (violinist-vocalist) and Magdelys Savigne (percussionist/violinist). The 2023 Festival Choir Project, meanwhile, draws inspiration from the Prince Edward Island-based Songs for a Small Planet, which invites songwriters to address the impacts of the climate crisis on individuals and communities. There’s much more, from family activities to a global food market. Summer vibe: Fraser Valley bounty of a folksy sort.

CREATE! Arts Festival

July 22 and 23 at Strathcona Park and nearby art studios

Jump into the third annual imaginative and interactive CREATE! Arts Festival this summer, featuring hands-on printmaking, glass fusing, ceramics, painting, Salish singing, storytelling, and more. The fest is put on by the Eastside Arts Society (producers of the Eastside Culture Crawl festival), who are hosting their beloved Art! Bike! Beer! Crawl fundraiser and tour on July 22. The event ends at the festival grounds, where attendees can enjoy a final tasting pint, food, and raffle. Summer vibe: Craft making meets craft beer.

EMV Summer Festival

July 27 to August 5 at venues around the city

Though they’ve changed their name from the Vancouver Bach Festival, Early Music Vancouver isn’t dropping their beloved Bach concerts; instead, they’re expanding the programming to showcase other composers and explore new themes, like this year’s “WOMENinSIGHT”. Focusing on the impact and role of women in history through a musical lens, the lineup brings together over 60 artists from around the world and showcases artist-in-residence Catalina Vicens from Italy. A standout is the series finale A Woman’s Voice in Bach’s World, featuring three splendid Bach cantatas on texts by librettist Christiane Mariane von Ziegler. Summer vibe: Broadening the Bach horizon.

AUGUST

Vancouver Mural Festival

August 4 to 13 around the city

Filling the city with pop-up events, tours of stunning new murals, and opportunities to connect through art, the Vancouver Mural Festival returns with the beloved Mount Pleasant Street Party after a pandemic hiatus. Free and all-ages, this crowd favourite running at the City Centre Artist Lodge and surrounding alleys and streets by 5th and 6th avenues features DJs, live music, food trucks, a beer garden, an artisanal market, and more. Summer vibe: Larger-than-life creations on concrete canvases.

Powell Street Festival

August 5 and 6 at Oppenheimer Park and the surrounding neighbourhood

Set in the heart of Vancouver’s historic Japanese Canadian neighbourhood, Paueru Gai—today known as the Downtown Eastside—Powell Street Festival brings all the stylings of a matsuri, a Japanese summer festival. Full lineup details will be announced soon, but a mix of dance, music, film, martial arts demonstrations, amateur sumo, walking tours of the historic neighbourhood, craft vendors, and delicious Japanese food can be expected. Summer vibe: Sumo in the sun.

Vines Art Festival

August 9 to 19 at parks around the city

Made possible through the work, creativity, and resistance of Black, Indigenous, racialized, disabled, queer, Two-Spirit, trans, nonbinary and gender-diverse people, the Vines Art Festival brings performance and art to parks across the city, culminating in a multidisciplinary outdoor festival in Trout Lake’s John Hendry Park. Focusing on artists that are working toward land, water, and social justice, the fest’s intitiatives include the Indigenous mentorship program Rooted Relations and the Heirloom Exchange for emerging artists. Watch for a programming announcement for this year’s festival on June 28. Summer vibe: Eco-arts activism.

Vancouver Queer Film Festival

August 10 to 20 at cinemas around the city and online

Now in its 35th annual season, the VQFF creates a safe platform for LGBTQ2SIA+ people and communities to be seen, heard, and celebrated through art, dialogue, and film from here and around the world. But the festival doesn’t just bring cinema to the table—get ready for parties, special events, and industry workshops, too. Check back soon for more details on the lineup. Summer vibe: Communities breaking creative boundaries.

African Descent Festival

August 11 to 13 at English Bay Beach

With a focus on rejuvenating the spirit of Hogan’s Alley, this year’s African Descent Festival celebrates cultural diversity within Vancouver through performances from Botswana-born rapper Teon Gibbs, Ugandan-Canadian singer-songwriter Yvonne Kushe, Brazilian dance group Samba Fusion, and more. The beachfront fest will also highlight top-of-the-line design work from names like Cenchini and Africstyle Fashion, and live paintings by Korean artist Jace Junggyu Kim. Summer vibe: Culture comes first.

Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival

August 12 at Deer Lake Park

Canadian music icon and multi-Juno Award-winner Buffy Sainte-Marie headlines this year’s Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival, which features outdoor fun in the sun complete with free admission, food trucks, and a family zone. The day is packed with unforgettable performances from Montreal-based songwriter-musician Allison Russell; redefined jam band act Boy Golden; Seattle-based pop-rhythm-blues band The Dip; and Arctic soul band The Trade Offs. Summer vibe: Sipping lemonade and swaying to strings.

A Music on Main Pop-Up Concert at Mount Pleasant Park. Photo by Jan Gates

Music on Main Summer Pop-Up Concerts

August 14 to 16 and 21 to 23 at Mount Pleasant Park, 6:30 pm

Whether you’re a neighbour, friend, solo picnicker, or passerby, the serene sounds of the pop-up concerts will draw you into Mount Pleasant Park to spread out on the grass on summer evenings. A lineup of free events, with specific artists soon to be announced, will share heartwarming talent from a wide range of musicians and instruments. A selection of food trucks will also be on deck to fulfill snacking needs. Summer vibe: Happenstance musical merrymaking.

Ambleside Music Festival

August 19 and 20 at Ambleside Park

With a stacked lineup that includes big names like Weezer, Third Eye Blind, Saint Motel, Finger Eleven, and Vancouver’s own Said the Whale, Ambleside Music Festival is guaranteed to rock the West Van waterfront this summer. A partnership with Okanagan Wine Festivals means an array of different vintages to try, plus exclusive tastings and premium offerings for VIP pass holders. Summer vibe: Tannins with off-the-hook tunes.

SEPTEMBER

Vancouver Fringe Festival

September 7 to 17 on venues around Granville Island and the city

B.C.’s largest theatre festival will be back this season with scores of new theatre, comedy, dance, spoken word, and more shows. Tickets go on sale mid-summer, so be sure to check back again soon for more details. Summer vibe: Theatrical adventure for fearless explorers.

Coming up in early September: Mark your calendars now for the African Heritage Festival of Music and Dance from September 1 to 3, TAIWANfest from September 2 to 4, and the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival from September 7 to 17. As the summer weeks roll by and the warm weather starts to wane, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more programming announcements.

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Emily Lyth

Emily Lyth is a Vancouver-based writer and editor who graduated from Langara College’s Journalism program. Her decade of dance training and passion for all things food-related are the foundation of her love for telling arts, culture, and community stories.

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